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No. 624,983. Patented May l6, I899.

w. SANDFORD, w. monuusv & E. SILCOCKS.

EXPANDING RAIL JOINT.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1898.) (No Model.)

( (I, 6 yaw/beam Ja /1: 25:

' 116144 JZMZ gm $11M L Mw gles as the inner flanges on the insideplates.

ner plates are curved in the middle, so that ward the center of the railcauses the inner NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM SANDFORD, OF LITHGOW, WILLIAM THORNLEY, OF MARRIOK- VILLE, ANDEDWARD SILCOOKS, OF SYDNEY,NEVV SOUTH WALES.

EXPANDING RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,983, dated May 16,1899.

Application filed March 1, 1898. Serial No. 672,204. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM SANDFORD, ironmaster, of Eskbank Ironworks,Lithgow, WILLIAM THORNLEY, mechanical engineer, of Marrickville, nearSydney, and EDWARD SILOOOKS, railway-inspector, of 82 Buckingham street,Sydney, in the Colony of New South ales, have invented an ImprovedExpanding Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification. v

This improved rail-joint consists, essentially, of the combination andarrangement, with the abutting ends of two lengths of rail, of fourplates which may be made any required length. The two inner plates aremade to fit the rail accurately ontthe upper and lower side. The twoexpansion-plates are made with inclined edges which are of the same an-WVhen these plates are put together, as shown at Figure 1, and the boltsare screwed up tight, the outer plates being pressed in toplates toexpand and force themselves tight against the flange and head of rail.The inthe forcing home of the outer plates causes the circular web ofthe inner plates to straighten out and so increases the width of theplates to allow them to take up any irregularities or wear there may bein the rail or plates.

These rail-joints may be made as shown on Fig. 1 and in the manner abovedescribed, or, if preferred, the inner plates can be made in two pieces,so as to allow them to open out more freely. This method is shown onFig. 2. If desired, they may be made as shown on Fig. 3. This methodwould have the effect of strengthening the railjoints and may assist incarrying the wheels over the slight opening between the rails and at thejoints, as the tread of the wheel would come' in contact with the topflange and outer portion of railjoint; but in order that this inventionmay be more clearly understood reference will now be made to thedrawings herewith, Where the letters of reference apply to the sameparts in all the figures.

Fig. 1 is a section showing the joint as applied to a flange-rail A. Theinner plates B Figs. 4 and 5 show the application of the invention tothe bull-l1ead-and double-head rails. Fig. at shows the joint applied inthesame manner as described on Fig. 1. Fig. 5, however, shows analteration which gives the advantages of a deep fish-plate, but thestrength is added to the plates where it will be of most service to thejoints.

,Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal elevation of the joint.

The advantages claimed for the invention are as follows: Thejoint-plates are in full bearing contact with rail under head and onflange, having their inner edges in contact with the rail-web, and asthe action of the inner plates being tightened by the bolts expands thejoints in a direct line, the inner plates being prevented from movementwith relation to their contacting rail portions by reason of abuttingagainst the web,as just described, the same surface of rail is always incontact with the same surface of rail-joint, so that any inequalities orroughness in either rail or plate is in a short time impressed either injoint or on the rail, This has the effect of making the ordinary rolledsurfaces of rail and joint practically a true mechanical fit. It will bereadily seen that this method of tightening the joints is superior toany joint which slides down the ordinary inclined plane of the rails,because the plates or joints which depend upon being brought closertogether by the ordinary method are constantly shifting their positionon the rails, so that the indentations made by any irregularities in therolling of the rails or joints are shifted every time the bolts aretightened up. The rail is thus constantly knocking fresh impressions inthe joints and causes them to quickly wear away and become useless.

Having now described the nature of our invention, we declare that whatwe claim is- 1. In a rail-joint the combination with abuttingrail-sections, of inner plates upon each side of the rail and extendingalong both railsections across the line of abutment, said inner platesbeing respectively under the railhead and above the bottom flanges, theplates when in position being prevented from movement with relation tothe contacting rail portions, outer plates on each side of the rail andextending along both rail-sections, said outer plates fitting betweenthe before-mentioned inner plates on a given side of the rail, thecontacting surfaces of one member being inclined, whereby movement ofthe outer plates along the inner plates serves to force the inner platesagainst the rail-head and bottom flanges, and means for locking theouter plates in adjusted position; substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint the combination with abutting rail-sections, of innerplates upon each side of the rail and extending along both railsectionsacross the line of abutment, said inner plates being respectively underthe railhead and above the bottom flanges, and having their inner edgesin contact with the railweb, outer plates on each side of the rail andextending along both rail-sections, said outer plates fitting betweenthe before-mentioned inner plates on a given side of the rail, thecontacting surfaces of one member being inclined whereby movement of theouter plates along the inner plates in the direction of their widthserves to force the inner plates against the rail-head and bottomflanges, and means for locking the outer plates in adjusted position;substantially as described.

WILLIAM SANDFORD. WILLIAM THORNLEY. EDWARD SILCOOKS.

Witnesses:

W. V. ALEXANDER, G. F. W. DANDO.

